Telecommunication system tester with integrated voice and data
First Claim
1. A method of testing a telecommunication system, the telecommunication system being connectable to a telecommunication network, comprising the steps of:
- (a) generating test data including voice data and digital data;
(b) transmitting the test data to the telecommunication system;
(c) detecting voice data and digital data produced by the telecommunication system in response to the test data transmitted in step (b), wherein the voice data and the digital data are detected on the same line; and
(d) evaluating the voice data and the digital data detected in step (c) using stored expected data, thereby determining whether the telecommunication system is operating properly.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An apparatus and method for testing a telecommunication system, which runs telephony applications such as voice-mail, telephone banking systems, automated directory assistance, and multi-branched telephone customer service systems. The apparatus includes a test computer for scheduling and controlling the execution of test scripts, which include commands for generating network signaling, voice data, and digital data used to simulate transactions that typically take place on the telecommunication system; a database for storing the test scripts, test script input data, and test results; channels for running multiple test scripts in parallel; and, serial and voice ports for transmitting and receiving voice data and digital data to and from the telecommunication system.
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Citations
25 Claims
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1. A method of testing a telecommunication system, the telecommunication system being connectable to a telecommunication network, comprising the steps of:
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(a) generating test data including voice data and digital data; (b) transmitting the test data to the telecommunication system; (c) detecting voice data and digital data produced by the telecommunication system in response to the test data transmitted in step (b), wherein the voice data and the digital data are detected on the same line; and (d) evaluating the voice data and the digital data detected in step (c) using stored expected data, thereby determining whether the telecommunication system is operating properly. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3)
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4. A method of testing a telecommunication system, the telecommunication system being connectable to a telecommunication network, the method being performed by a tester including a test computer, a plurality of channels, and a plurality of ports,
wherein each channel is switchably connected to at least one port, and wherein each port is either directly connected to the telecommunication system or indirectly connected to the telecommunication system via the telecommunication network, comprising the steps of: -
(a) passing commands from a first channel to a second channel, thereby specifying signals to be transmitted to the telecommunication system by the second channel; (b) transmitting the specified signals to the telecommunication system using the second channel; (c) receiving signals from the telecommunication system using the second channel; (d) passing representations of the received signals from the second channel to the first channel; and (e) evaluating the received signals using the first channel, thereby determining whether the telecommunication system is operating properly. - View Dependent Claims (5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A method of testing a telecommunication system using a telephony interface and a data communications interface, the telecommunication system being connectable to a telecommunication network, comprising the steps of:
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(a) executing at least one first sequence of commands, the at least one first sequence comprising the substeps of (a1) transmitting voice data to the telecommunication system using a first port, and (a2) receiving voice data from the telecommunication system using the first port, wherein the first port is included in the telephony interface; and (b) executing at least one second sequence of commands, the at least one second sequence comprising the substeps of (b1) transmitting digital data to the telecommunication system using a second port, and (b2) receiving digital data from the telecommunication system using the second port, wherein the second port is included in the data communications interface, and wherein the at least one second sequence of commands is executed while the at least one first sequence of commands is being executed. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A method of testing a telecommunication system using a telephony interface and a data communications interface, the telecommunication system being connectable to a telecommunication network, comprising the steps of:
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(a) transmitting voice data and tones to the telecommunication system using a first port, the first port being included in the telephony interface; (b) receiving digital data from the telecommunication system using a second port, the second port being included in the data communications interface, wherein the received digital data is produced by a database included in the telecommunication system in response to the voice data and tones transmitted in step (a); and (c) comparing the digital data received in step (b) with expected digital data, thereby determining whether the telecommunication system is operating properly. - View Dependent Claims (15)
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16. A method of testing a telecommunication system using a plurality of testers, each tester including
at least one processor for controlling generation of test data and evaluation of response data, wherein the test data includes voice data and digital data, and wherein the response data includes voice data and digital data produced by the telecommunication system in response to the test data, means for transmitting the test data to the telecommunication system, the transmitting means being connected to the at least one processor; -
means for detecting the response data, the detecting means being connected to the at least one processor, wherein the voice data and the digital data are detected by the detecting means on respective lines, and at least one storage device coupled to the at least one processor, the transmitting means, and the detecting means, for storing expected data used to evaluate the response data, the method comprising the steps of; (a) transmitting data to the telecommunication system using a first tester; (b) receiving data from the telecommunication system using a second tester, the received data being produced by the telecommunication system in response to the data transmitted in step (a); and (c) comparing the data received in step (b) with expected data, thereby determining whether the telecommunication system is operating properly. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18)
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19. A method of testing a telecommunication system, the telecommunication system being connectable to a telecommunication network, comprising the steps of:
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(a) placing a call to the telecommunication system; (b) receiving digital data from the telecommunication system in response to the call placed in step (a); and (c) comparing the data received in step (b) with characteristics of the call placed in step (a), thereby determining whether the telecommunication system is operating properly. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21)
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22. A method of testing a telecommunication system using a telecommunication system tester, the tester including a test computer connected to a database and a plurality of channels, the telecommunication system being connectable to a telecommunication network, the method comprising the steps of:
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(a) retrieving data from the database, the data being retrieved by a first channel and being related to a call to be placed by a second channel; (b) passing the data from the first channel to the second channel; (c) placing the call to the telecommunication system using the second channel; (d) receiving a response to the call from the telecommunication system, the response being received by the second channel; (e) passing the response from the second channel to the first channel; and (f) evaluating the response using the first channel, thereby determining whether the telecommunication system is operating properly. - View Dependent Claims (23, 24, 25)
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Specification